Chapter 4.1
2136 Words
Chapter 4.1
Sunlight struck Bernard's face. Umaga na at mataas na ang sikat ng araw ng siya magising. He is feeling so heavy right now and his head is aching. Kung bakit na naman kasi siya nagpakasobra sa lambanog!
"Ugh!" he hissed. His head is making him sick. He was so drunked last night and he did not know what happened after their session. He even didn't know how he ended up in his room. He went straight to the comfort room to freshen up.
Wala na rin si Yael sa kwarto, marahil ay nasa labas na rin ito ngayon. Matapos niyang maghilamos ay dumiretso na siya sa cafe ng lodge. Doon ay naabutan niya si Yael at nagkakape.
"Hey, Man" bati nito sa kaibigan. Umupo na rin ito upang idantay ang kanyang kumikirot na ulo.
Nagkunot noo siya at muling tinanong si Yael "How did we ended up on our rooms, as I can clearly remember, we still at the cafe last night."
"Well, it's embarrassing, Bro." Yael instilled
Sakto naman ay dumating ang dalawang dalaga sa cafe. Clarissa was sternly looking at Bernard. He is clueless on what was going on.
A sudden idea popped in his mind. If his intuitions are right, he is damned unlucky.
" Clarissa, did you..." he asked her intriguingly.
"Yes. I saw you drunked last night, and you can't walk. So, I seek help to guide you to your room." she directly told Bernard. She has to show that she is not affected because she can sense where the conversation is going.
A sly grin appeared in his red kissable lips."So, you've seen it all?" he teasingly asked her.
Clarissa blushed. She remebered how she sinfully looked into his handsomeness. She veered out of his sight "Of course not."she lied. She has to lie, or else she will be submerge in fire.
"Uhm, okay. Kala ko naman kasi napagsamantalahan ako, because I don't remember wearing these" he graze his hands on his blue shirt.
Agad namang tumutol si Zea. "Naku, walang ganoon. Yung isa sa mga katiwala dito sa lodge ang nagpalit ng damit niyo. Nag utos lamang kami."depensa nito habang nakatingin kay Yael. Yael smirked and silently vent out a laugh.
Inirapan ni Clarissa si Bernard "You know what, you should be thankful instead. Kasi we have a choice to leave you all there...helpless. Pero tinulungan pa din namin kayo. "
Bakas sa boses niya ang iritasyon. Hindi naging tama sa pandinig niya ang mga sinambit ni Bernard. Those words of accusation somehow hurt her. Sa lahat ng dapat niyang marinig ay mga ganoong bintang pa.
She immediately walked out of the cafe and went straight to the beach.
"Naku tsk tsk, ayusin mo yan. Masamang magtampo yang si Clarissa." Zea warned Bernard. Afterwhich, she turned her sight to Yael. "Ikaw din, isa ka pa!" and she pointed her finger to Yael. She too, left the cafe straight to their room.
Napakunot noo si Bernard. He has not pissed any woman in the last 2 years. Ngayon lang uli may nagalit sa mga pabirong hirit niya.
Lumipas ang isang oras ay hindi pa din bumabalik si Clarissa sa lodge. He is now feeling worried that something might have happened to her. If that joke really shattered her ego, then he is willing to pay the price.
Naglakad siya papunta kung saan niya huling nakita si Clarissa. There, he saw her playing with the kids. The kids are the locals who are residents of the island. Patagong pinagmasdan ni Bernard ang dalaga habang ito ay nakikipagtakbuhan sa mga bata malapit sa dalampasigan.
Her smile are the most beautiful he has ever seen. Kita sa mga mata nito na masaya siyang nakikipaglaro sa mga bata.
Hindi naglaon ay pinuntahan niya ang mga ito. Sandali pa ay napansin na siya ni Clarissa, ngunit hindi siya nito pinansin. Bagkus, ay nagpatuloy lang siya sa pakikipaglaro sa mga bata.
Isang bata naman ang lumapit sa kanya. Siguro ay nasa mga limang taon na ang gulang nito. She looked him, wearing a questioning glare.
"Kuya, crush mo si ate ganda no?" bali ng bata. Kapagkuway lumapit na rin ang ibang bata sa kanya upang tanungin. Samantalang si Clarissa ay nakatayong nakatingin sa kanila.
Nginitian ni Bernard and mga ito.
"Naku, galit nga siya sa akin e. Nagtatampo siya. May kasalanan kasi ako." he told the children. Bernard looked at Clarissa straight to the eye.
"Pwede ba tulungan niyo naman ako. Pakisabi sa kanya... Sorry na." he didn't cut his stare to the lady.
"Ano po ba kasalanan niyo, bakit niyo po sinaktan si ate ganda?" sunod na tanong ng isang pang bata.
"Nakapagbitaw ako ng mga salitang hindi dapat, e. Kaya ayun, di niya ako bati." he gently stoked the childs head.
Sandali pa ay nagpunta ang isang batang babae kay Clarissa. "Ate Ganda. Patawarin mo na po si Kuya gwapo." the girl innocently asked her.
Clarissa knelt to level the child's height "Pwede ba pakisabi sa kanya, masakit yung mga bintang niya." she teasingly smiled at the kid.
Sumunod naman ang bata at nilapitan si Bernard. He suddenly shifted his eyes to an orchard nearby and picked some flowers. Napapalibutan siya ng mga bata at hindi makita ni Clarissa kung ano man ang ginagawa ng mga ito.
Sandali lamang ay lumapit si Bernard kay Clarissa.
"Sorry.... and thank you" he offered the flowers to her. Noong una ay ayaw niya itong tanggapin pa, ngunit dahil sa pagpupumilit ng mga bata ay tinaggap na lamang niya ang mga iyon.
DAPIT hapon na ng matapos makipaglaro si Clarissa at Bernard sa mga bata. Bakas sa kanilang mukha ang pagod at naupo muna silang dalawa sa may dalampasigan.
"Clarissa. I am sorry again for what I said earlier. Salamat din at hindi mo ako pinabayaan kagabi." he at her intently.
"Mr. Valderama. Pasalamat ka at kung hindi dahil sa mga bata ay hindi kita mapagbibigyan" she said in conviction.
"My words are too insensitive. I didn't mean to offend you and Zea. I hope, we can be in good terms?" and he offered a hand shake.
She looked at him and again sinfully looking at his brown eyes - those eyes pleading for forgiveness. She immediately snapped out of it and accepted his apologies.
"At baka pwedeng Bernard na lang itawag mo sa akin. Mr. Valderama is too formal" he requested. Tumalima naman ang dalaga.
They have been seated quite sometime now, when she remembered what happened last night. Naalala niya ang pagtangis ng binata para sa isang babaeng si Aina. Hindi na rin naiwasan pang ungkatin ni Clarissa ang mga iyon.
"You know what. Last night when I saw you almost lying on the floor, you are stating a name. Paulit ulit mo tinatawag iyon, at umiiyak ka pa" medyo may patuksong sambit nito sa binata.
Nagkunot noo ang binata na tila walang naalala. "Talaga ba? I don't remember that?" kastigo nito.
"Do you think, I'm lying? I save you last night, didn't I?"
"It was Aina... Yes, yun nga ang oangalang sinasambit mo." and after that she sipped her buko juice.
His face suddenly changed into a serious one. "She is Elaina, siya ang first love ko." matapos marinig ni Clarissa yun ay nasamid siya.
"You mean, Elaina Dela Vega of Dela Vega Furnitures?" she knew her because they're somehow business partners on the recently built hotel in Venice, where Elaina's company supplied the needed fixtures for the said establishment.
"Yes, pero mahabang kwento. And besides, you aren't interested anyway."at nginitian siya nito. On her latter mind, though it seem quite piqued her interest.
"No carry on. As a business woman, one of my assets for a successful partnership is listening to needs of our clients. So I may lend an ear" she reiterate.
Ikniwento ni Bernard lahat ng tungkol kay Aina, at ang mga naganap sa kanila nung nakalipas. It was a tragic happening and this is his first time after 4 years na muling sariwain ito.
Clarissa saw a tear escaped Bernard's eyes as he reminisce those moments. She felt that he had too much in the past that he somehow turned into a beast he is now.
"Ikaw naman magkwento. Ako pa ang kanina pa nag kukwento dito." he retorted
"Nah, that's too much for the day. Maybe next time." she evaded the questions and immediately stood up to be on her way to the hotel.
"Daya mo naman." at tumayo na rin si Bernard.
"Don't you think it's too late for us to talk about mine?" saad ng dalaga.
"So, how about tommorow?" pagpupumilit ng binata.
"Not really. And besides, we will be busy tomorrow. Remember, meeting with the locals?" she replied kn her British accent.
"Labo mo naman." he repied with dissapointment.
***
"Kumusta naman date niyo ni Miss Bristish Sungit?" tanong ni Yael kay Bernard. Alas Diyes na ng gabi at naghahanda na siya upang magpahinga.
"Well, I'm skimming close to her. You'll see, she will be mine soon." asik nito sa kaibigan.
Natawa naman si Yael sa tinuran nito. "Talagang desidido kang maangkin siya ah." he stated knowingly.
"Sigurado ka ba talagang mapapa-amo mo yang si Clarissa? Mukhang mahihirapan ka lang." pang aasar nitong muli sa kanya.
"Chill man! In the end, the prize will be mine!" pagmamayabang nito
"Well suit yourself then. Pero as your friend, I suggest you stop this. Ikaw din, baka karmahin ka ng malala." bali nito sa kaibigan.
Muling niyang naalala ang ipinaimbestiga niyang nakaraan ni Clarissa. Until now, he has not checked hi email yet.
He turned on his hotspot network and checked his email. Kung bakit ba naman kasi walang signal dito, good thing he brings with him an international hotspot device.
He checked his email, and found the answer to his questions.
"Clarissa Corteza, it's time to know you and your hidden past" and he smirked.
***
Natapos ng mag almusal sina Clarissa ng lumabas ng kwarto sina Bernard. Nakaayos na ito ng lumabas at saglit pa ay lumapit na ito sa kanila. He is wering that white polo and festive hawaian shorts. His lean hunky body is visibke in his tight semi unbuttoned polo.
Clarissa suddenly felt a lump on her throat. The beast is hotter than the morning and she automatically sweat up on his hotness.
She snapped out of it when Zea called her attention. "Clang, tara na" pag aya nito sa kanila upang tumuloy na. Sila ngayon ay pupunta sa local tribe office ng Alteresia upang kausapin ang mga naninirahan dito. Aalamin din nila ang demographics ng lugar upang mapag aralan kung kakailanganin ng karagdagang tao na kanilang kukunin upang magtrabaho rito.
Due to the islands proximity to the mainland, transport is restricted. Dahil doon ay tanging habal lamang ang meron sila. Bernard got one of the motor to drive and Yael had the other one.
Si Zea ay umangkas kay Yael. Bernard, on the other hand offered Clarissa to hop in.
"Tara na, sakay ka na." pagimbita nito kay Clarissa. Tila ay mas lalo niyang pinagsisihan ang pag sama pa sa kanila. Hiw she wished she just pretended sick if she knew that these were the ride.
"Tara na. I promise, I won't bite." he teasingly joked her.
Welk she has no choice anyway. Tumalima na lamang ito at sumakay na sa motor. Isinuot na rin niya ang helmet.
"Oh, hawak lang sa matigas" he gawked.
Kasabay noon ay pinalo ni Clarissa si Bernard. "I hate you! Napaka bastos mo! Anong matigas pinagsasabi mo?" she really now wants to back out. Natawa naman si Bernard. "Sorry na. Sabi ko kumapit ka nalang sa akin, kasi medyo mabato ang daraanan natin, baka mahulog ka pa."
Humawak si Clarissa sa mga braso nito. Umarangkada na ang motor ng bigla itong mapadaan sa mabatong bahagi ng kalye.
That automatically frightened her and immediately shifted her handle from his broad muscular arms to his abdomen. Her palms landed directly in his well molded abs. She felt gushing heat as he embraced the man from behind. The fervent heat caused by the friction of their bodies intensified as the motor moves incoherently due to instability of the road. Sudden flow of heaten sweat appeared on her cheeks. Kahit na may kalamigan ang panahon ay nakaramdam siya ng init na hindi niya alam kung saan nagmumula. Her whole system was engulfed with the steamy sensation that she is feeling. It's more addicting than the first time she felt it.
"Hindi 'to tama. Clarissa wake up!" she replied to herself. She has to take control of this, or this would cause her to lose her sanity anytime soon.
*to be continued.
NOTE: Please bear with the misspellings and wrong grammar. This is a raw version. Please post your comments on board and let me know what you feel. Thank you.
- Writer
